insect damage inside this bark

Asked February 28, 2019, 1:29 PM EST

I'm in Fairbanks and have woodpiles which are several years old. The photo shows the inside of spruce bark. What insect caused it? Is this pest new, spreading? My biologist relative in MN is asking me about this topic.

1 Response

Hello,

Thanks for you question. The damage you are seeing under the bark is caused by bark beetles. There are many different species of bark beetle that are native to Alaska and most of them live and feed in already dead or dying trees. It would not be uncommon to find evidence of them in logs in your woodpile.